Ring-billed Gull

Familiar acrobats of the air, Ring-billed Gulls nimbly pluck tossed tidbits from on high. Comfortable around humans, they frequent parking lots, garbage dumps, beaches, and fields, sometimes by the hundreds. These are the gulls you're most likely to see far away from coastal areas—in fact, most Ring-billed Gulls nest in the interior of the continent, near freshwater. A black band encircling the yellow bill helps distinguish adults from other gulls—but look closely, as some other species have black or red spots on the bill.

Typical Voice

Size & Shape

The Ring-billed is a medium-sized gull with a fairly short, slim bill. When the gull perches, its long, slender wings extend well past its square-tipped tail. In flight, the birds move lightly on easy flaps of their fairly slender wings.

Color Pattern

Adults are clean gray above, with a white head, body and tail; their black wingtips are spotted with white. They have yellow legs and a yellow bill with a black band around it. Nonbreeding adults have brown-streaked heads. During their first two years, Ring-billed Gulls are a motley brown and gray with a pink bill and legs.

Behavior

These sociable gulls often fly overhead by the hundreds or feed together at a golf course, beach, or field. Strong, nimble flyers and opportunistic feeders, Ring-billed Gulls circle and hover acrobatically looking for food; they also forage afloat and on foot.

Habitat

Ring-billed Gulls often congregate around humans, at garbage dumps, parking lots, and freshly plowed fields. While the species is common on coastal beaches, particularly during winter, many Ring-billed Gulls lead inland lives, never setting eyes on the sea.

Adult nonbreeding

Similar Species

Herring Gulls are noticeably larger than Ring-billed Gulls and have a thicker bill. Adult Herring Gulls are a similar shade of gray above, but they have pink legs and lack a dark ring around the bill. Immature Herring Gulls are best separated from Ring-billed Gulls by their thicker bill and larger size. In the West, similarly sized California Gulls can occur with Ring-billed Gulls. With adults, look for the California Gull's two bill spots (one black, one red), instead of the Ring-billed Gull's ring. Adult California Gulls are also slightly darker gray on the wings and back. Immature California Gulls tend to be darker and browner than immature Ring-billed Gulls. Laughing Gulls are much darker gray on the back than Ring-billed Gulls. They have a completely black head in the summer, a dark-smudged head in winter, and a dark bill.

Regional Differences

None

Find This Bird

Look for these gulls in parking lots, at sporting events, and around sewage ponds and garbage dumps. You may see them foraging for insects and worms in newly plowed fields, or perching atop light poles near shopping malls and fast-food restaurants. They also frequent reservoirs, lakes, marshes, mudflats, and beaches.